Answer 1
The entrance examination consists of two parts. The entire exam will be conducted in English.

1. Reading and Writing (60 minutes)
- read a short excerpt on a public health topic (600-800 words) and provide a summary and your thoughts on the topic
- write a short essay on a topic that will be provided on the day, to assess your writing ability

2. Interview (Approximately 30 minutes)
-talk with interviewers about the topic related to the article mentioned above and
your professional experiences, interests and motivation for applying to the SLGSPH

Answer 2
1. Reading and Writing
We highly recommend applicants familiarize themselves with current public health issues and practices, and practice expressing their thoughts in short reports.

2. Interview
The applicants have as many opportunities as possible to practice English beforehand so that they can present their opinions with confidence. We will be sure to ask the applicant’s interest, their career plan, and how we can help them.

Answer 3
1. Courses and Credits
- You need to complete 42 credits for the degree over the period of the course
- There are 10 required courses
- Classes are usually 2 or 3 credits
- One course usually has 15 classes of 135 minutes each.

2. Class schedule
Required classes, mostly on weekdays 3:05 – 5:20 pm (Online options are available)
Elective courses, usually 6:00 – 8:15 pm.

Answer 4
The two-year course is the standard course for the MPH program

- Two-year course:
Average 3-4 days attendance per week
First semester of first year is particularly tough

- Three-year course:
1-2 days attendance per week
Easier to balance course load over the full three years

Answer 5
YES
We have designed the program for working adults
- Weekday classes are from 15:05 to 20:15
- Saturday classes are from 9:25 to 17:20
- All required courses have on-demand option
- Most elective courses have on-demand/live online mode
We value work/life balance, and understand the needs of working professionals

Answer 6
You need to have good command of English!

- The following scores are suggested as standard for taking courses
in English: TOEFL (iBT) score of 80 or higher, TOEFL (PBT) score of 550 or higher,
TOEIC score of 800 or higher, IELTS 6.0 or higher.

-In the actual classes, you need to be able to understand lectures, read papers, and participate in discussions.

Answer 7
Yes
Some of our students live outside Tokyo
Some of our students are extremely busy with little commuting time
They join all classes online
Some students cannot join live classes but are able to watch recordings on-demand
Supervision, mentoring and other support can also be done online

*Please note that some courses may require on–site participation sometimes

Answer 8
Our program has produced 141 graduates since 2017;
About 20% of whom have used to their studies to change careers
Approximately 59% are still working at the same place of employment

Answer 9
No
You can develop your theme of study/research topic in consultation with a supervisor after entering to the school
You do not need to have a supervisor or a topic prepared before you enter the school
Supervisors are assigned at the beginning of final year
Supervisor assignments are based on students’ choices

Answer 10
The entrance examination consists of two parts.

1. Written Examination
- General public health section
A short excerpt from a public health-related article
Specific comprehension questions about this article

- Discipline-specific questions
You select the area of studies from: Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Behavioral Health, Environmental Health.
The exam has specific questions on this single topic, equivalent to a good masters-level knowledge of the topic

The whole written exam is 90 minutes, with no specific time for each section


2. Interview including discussion of research field (Approximately 30 minutes)
- describe previous research experience, explain the doctoral research proposal, discuss future plans, personal motivation, and explain the reasons for studying at the SLGSPH

Answer 11
There are three requirements for graduation:
- attending school for the standard number of years (Three years)
- completing the required minimum number of credits of coursework (21 credits)
- submitting a dissertation that is of scientific publication quality, and is approved by a panel of academics

In principle, some part of your dissertation material needs to be submitted or accepted for publication in an international peer-reviewed journal

Answer 12
No!
There is no need for a prior meeting with the supervising professor.
Students are required to submit a request for a supervisor in the first year after consultation with their faculty mentor, after which the supervisor is assigned.

Remark: After enrollment, each student is assigned a faculty mentor, who is responsible for consultation on the curriculum and student life.